Indians Prospect Insider

Happy Friday! In this MLB News and Notes segment, the IBI's Andrew Zajac will be giving occasional reports on the latest news and rumors throughout the MLB. Today's piece focuses on the Twins narrowing down their managerial search, the Josh Donaldson rumor getting refuted, a team that could pursue Victor Martinez, and more.

In today’s Minor Happenings, the IBI's Tony Lastoria takes a look at the strides that shortstop Erik Gonzalez has made defensively and as a player overall and how he fits into things for the Indians long term. He also looks at the struggles that Cody Anderson went through this season, the problems that caused them and what he needs to do to correct them. In addition to that he looks at Sean Brady’s rise in the system and the next steps he needs to take to solidify his prospect status, some areas of concern with Francisco Lindor’s defense the Indians want to shore up, the emergence of Elvis Araujo as a left-handed relief option, and much more.

We are still several months from the 2015 Draft and the college baseball season is a long way off, but that doesn't mean people aren't already talking 2015 MLB Draft. Since the summer leagues are done and the showcase circuit is over, IBI draft guru Jeff Ellis decided to sit down and make his first draft big board. With the Indians holding two first round picks in next year's draft, it will make for a lot of possibilities with what they and other teams will do.

Just 24 hours earlier the world saw one of the best wildcard games to ever be played in MLB history. On Wednesday night, not so much. Madison Bumgarner was unhittable all game long as he got the four-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The IBI's Jay Frierson recaps the game and all the news and notes from around the league on Wednesday.

Over the next several weeks the IBI's Tony Lastoria will be providing year-end pieces like this for all of the Indians six minor league affiliates. With comments on 20-25 players for each team, these pieces are being broken up into two parts. In today's second part of his AZL review, Tony had a chance to sit down with Indians Assistant Director of Player Development Carter Hawkins to get the organization’s thoughts on the performance/development of some of the pitchers there such as Casey Shane, Shao-Ching Chiang, Justus Sheffield, Grant Hockin, Jared Robinson, Sam Hentges, Leandro Linares and over a dozen pitchers in total.

The 2014 season may have ended with some disappointment with Cleveland missing the playoffs, but finishing with an 85-77 record and being in contention until the last weekend of the season is not all that bad. Before looking forward to 2015, first IBI is going to look back on 2014. Join Jim Piascik as he brings you part one of his roster rankings, running down every player who played on the major league team from #46 to #1.

It was a wild night in Kansas City on Tuesday night as the Royals fought back from a 7-3 deficit in the eighth inning to eventually tie it in the 9th and then in extra innings fight back from another deficit to win the game, 9-8. The IBI's Jay Frierson recaps the news and notes from the day and a thriller in Kansas City.

Many Indians fans will remember Orel Hershiser, a pitcher who made a name for himself with the Dodgers and moved on to signing with the Cleveland Indians in 1995. Indians General Manager John Hart had said that he was looking for someone who had the “character and competitiveness” to show younger players how to play the right way, and Hershiser proved to be the right choice. After his playing career ended he moved to the broadcast booth, but he has since become a professional poker player.

Over the next several weeks the IBI's Tony Lastoria will be providing year-end pieces like this for all of the Indians six minor league affiliates. With comments on 20-25 players for each team, these pieces are being broken up into two parts. In today's first part of his AZL review, Tony chance to sit down with Indians Assistant Director of Player Development Carter Hawkins to get the organization’s thoughts on the performance/development of some of the position players there such as Bobby Bradley, Yu Cheng Chang, Li-Jen Chu, Silento Sayles, Emmanuel Tapia and more.

An often repeated phrase surrounding Cleveland baseball over the past two decades regards how poor the organization has fared in the draft. But exactly how bad has Cleveland been? And how do they stack up against the rest of baseball? With this new series, Jim Piascik sets out to answer that question, starting with the 2004 draft. Join Jim as he breaks down Cleveland’s choices, how they stack up to the rest of Major League Baseball, and much more.

The regular season has been over for two days. Do you miss it yet? In this MLB News and Notes segment, the IBI's Andrew Zajac will be giving occasional reports on the latest news and rumors throughout the MLB. Today's piece focuses on the Twins firing Ron Gardenhire, the Astros announcing who their new manager is, who could start at shortstop for the Yankees next season, and more.

Another season of Indians baseball came to a close on Sunday, and as has been the case the past 65 seasons it ended without a World Series championship. But while there is sadness and disappointment with the conclusion of the 2014 season, this is but the beginning to what should be a very important and busy offseason for the Indians as they look primed to be serious contenders in 2015. The IBI's Tony Lastoria shares his thoughts on the future of the team, who shined, who struggled and more.

Another long six-month grind has come to an end as the 2014 season of Cleveland Indians baseball is now officially in the books. They ended on a high note with a 7-2 victory over Tampa Bay to finish the year with a respectable 85-77 record. Unfortunately, Terry Francona's bunch fell just shy of a postseason berth this year. Join the IBI's Jake Dungan as he wraps up the season.

The final day of baseball's regular season carried some drama with it as two division titles and one AL wildcard spot were secured. In addition to that, Nationals righty Jordan Zimmermann finished the season in style throwing a no-hitter - one that ended in dramatic fashion. The IBI's Jay Frierson provides all the news and notes from the day...

As bittersweet of an ending as it may be, you can officially close the book on the 2014 Indians. The Tribe suited up for one more day in the sun at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, ending a bumpy season on a high note, with a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon. Join IBI Indians beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps the season finale at the ballpark.

The WAR Room is back again, bringing you the 2014 advanced stats for every Cleveland minor leaguer. With the minor league seasons at an end, we continue bringing you seasons in review, with today's featuring the 2014 Lake County Captains. After focusing on the Captains' pitchers last week, join Jim Piascik as this week he focuses on their hitters, including Eric Haase, Nellie Rodriguez, and Clint Frazier.

Carlos Carrasco’s Saturday performance was, if not wholly and faithfully representative, at least emotionally representative of the Indians’ season to date. On one hand, Carrasco threw a gem, an eight-inning, ten-strikeout, three-walk performance that resulted in two earned runs. On the other hand, it coincided with a Rays’ shutout of the Indians and hence a pitcher loss for Carrasco’s efforts. Join John Grimm as he gives his Second Thoughts on Carrasco and Cleveland's loss on Saturday.

Once upon a time, Tribe fans only knew Michael Brantley as a player to be named later. Six years later, they called him their most valuable player. Amidst loud chants of "MVP" around the ballpark Saturday night at Progressive Field, Brantley entered baseball record books by collecting his 200th hit of the season. The hit became the lone highlight for Cleveland in a 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay, in what was the final night game of the regular season.

This weekly feature piece here at the IBI specifically looks at some of the prospects that have maybe not had as much attention they deserve for a variety of reasons but who are interesting or are coming onto the scene. Last week the IBI's Tony Lastoria focused on right-handed pitcher D.J. Brown, so this week he decided to focus in on a position player, one who just happened to be Brown’s battery mate this season catcher Jeremy Lucas. What kind of prospect is he? How is his bat and defense? What kind of future does he have? Tony provides all that and more...

Corey Kluber has been baseball's breakout story of 2014. That story and that 2014 came to a close for Kluber on Friday, as he emphatically delivered an eleven-strikeout, eight-inning shutout performance to cap a season that has been one of the most impressive in Indians' history. The IBI's John Grimm attempts to situate this historic strikeout season and explain the hallowed fraternity to which Kluber now belongs.

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!